Indiana is in many respects a young team. Indiana is in many respects a deep team. Indiana should have a clear hierarchy at the top, with Langford and senior forward Juwan Morgan leading the way. But beyond them, there are battles for starts and minutes at almost every other spot on the floor, so it’s probably going to be a while before we see the best of this team.

“This has to be a team of depth and togetherness this year,” Miller said at media day Thursday. “If we're not playing nine, 10 guys, then we're not getting the maximum out of everybody on the team.”

Langford and Morgan are sure things, each in his own way. Based on potential plus offseason improvement, sophomore wing/forward Justin Smith looks poised for a significant step forward as a sophomore. It’s probably safe to pencil those three into the starting five.

At point guard, there’s a two-man battle Al Durham could turn into three, fighting for minutes with Devonte Green and Robert Phinisee. Durham could also back up Langford, after spending the offseason focusing on his 3-point shot.

It was Fitzner's first time in front of IU's fans in Assembly Hall with the Hoosiers.
Jordan Guskey, IndyStar

De’Ron Davis is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon but has vowed to be ready for the start of the season. Clifton Moore has had a year to improve. Race Thompson, who redshirted last season, feels like a forgotten man but impressed during that scrimmage. Jake Forrester is all energy down low.

And everyone seems to be overlooking walk-on redshirt senior Zach McRoberts, who started the last 17 games of last season.

The point is, that’s 14 players who could reasonably command at least a rotation spot this winter. Of course, not all 14 will, but it’s Miller’s job between now and Nov. 6 to figure out who is relegated to a background role.

“I feel like we can be real deep, on both ends of the floor,” said Durham, who finished Saturday’s scrimmage with an unofficial seven points and four assists.

It’s an enviable problem for Miller to solve, but it will require solving nonetheless. Indiana is more unmolded clay than finished article right now. Figuring out how to draw the best version of itself out of this group will take some time.

Miller wasn’t really asking for patience when he got on the mic Saturday afternoon, but he deserves some.